Tutors in the world cannot help one poor soul to the saving knowledge of God It is God that teacheth man knowledge Psal 94.10 He who made light in the first Creation only can cause light in the new Creation 2 Cor. 4.6 But God who caused light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ He that at first said Let there be light when darkness cover'd the face of the world and there was light a corporeal light can command spiritual light and the knowledge of his glory in the face of Christ who is the express Image of his person Therefore the Apostle betakes himself to God for the gift Praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him c. 1 Eph. 17 18. So David often Psal 119.18 34 35 125 143 144. Rev. 3.18 Reader art thou blind take the Counsel of thy Saviour Go to him for eye salve that thou mayest see and be confident he that bids thee come to him for that will bid thee welcome when thou comest Rev. 3.18 None knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Math. 11.27 Therefore whoever thou art that sittest in darkness and in the shadow of death go to the Sun for light go to the Sun of Righteousness in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.9 for the light of the knowledge of God Dost thou not know the sinfulness and misery of a blind dark state that vengeance is the fruit of this ignorance Psal 79.6 that God will pour out his wrath upon them that know him not Go therefore as the blind man to the Lord Jesus Christ Cry sigh mourn pray Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me though he hear not presently hold on continue instant in Prayer though the Devil and flesh rebuke thee as the multitude him yet hold on call louder Jesus thou Son of David Mat. 32. to 37. Have mercy on me Lord that I might receive my sight And doubt not but he will have pity on thee as he had on him and touch thine eye and give thee to see the things of thy peace for thine encouragement thou hast his promise Jer. 24.7 I will give them an heart to know me that I am the Lord Jer. 31.34 They shall all know me from the least to the greatest So James 1.6 Hoseah 2.20 Heb. 8.8 9. O with what hope may'st thou sue these Bonds and plead these promises when he that made them is a God that cannot lye 1 Tit. 2. and therefore cannot but perform them Again observe how kindly he took it of Solomon when he bid Solomon ask what he would that he asked wisdom 2 Chron. 1.10 Give me wisdom and knowledge saith Solomon And the thing which Solomon asked pleased the Lord 1 Kings 3.10 And the Lord said unto Solomon Because this was in thine heart because thou hast not asked riches nor honour nor the life of thine enemies nor long life Wisdom and knowledge is granted to thee and I will give thee wealth and honour v. 11. When a poor creature sensible of its blindness and darkness lyeth at the feet of God begging spiritual light and sight the heart of the Redeemer is taken with such a request and subscribes the petition with Wisdom and Knowledge is granted to thee Be but diligent Reader in the use of these means and thou mayest be confident of success If thou cryest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding if thou seekest her as Silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasure then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisdome out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding Prov. 2.3 4 5 6. CHAP. XXV 2. Ex. To choose this incomparable God for our portion with some Motives thereunto 2. IF this God be such an incomparable God then choose this God for thy portion and take him for thy happiness Is it possible for thee to read so much of the incomparableness of God in his Being Attributes Works and Word and not desire him Thou canst hardly see an excellent person but thou art wishing him for thy Friend thy Companion nor an excellent Estate but thou art wishing it were thine Inheritance thy portion and canst thou hear of him who is excellency it self originally Job 13.11 the spring and standard of all excellency in others whose name alone is excellent Psal 14.13 and not wish O that this incomparable God were my Friend my Father my Head my Husband my Lot my Portion Who will give me to drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem O who will help me to drink of the well of Salvation of the fountain of living waters of the pure River that floweth from the throne of God and the Lamb Canst thou hear so much of his worth though infinitely short and not desire him Is it possible for a rational creature to read of such a bottomless treasure of such boundless pleasure of such an infinite unconceivable good and not covet the enjoyment of it O man where are thy wits whither art thou fallen art thou a man or a beast Ah didst thou know the gift of God and what it is that is offered thee thou wouldst scorn the highest honours sweetest carnal delights greatest riches yea trample upon all the Crowns and Kingdoms of this world for it It 's an ineffable priviledge that thou art a creature capable of so vast an happiness it 's a special favour that thou hast leave to aspire after such an immense inheritance and when it s tender'd to thee wilt thou refuse it wilt thou neglect it O wilt thou not give it all acceptation Having spoken in another Treatise to this particular I shall here only offer two or three things to thy serious thoughts and proceed to a third exhortation 1. Consider what is offer'd thee when the incomparable God is offered thee for thy portion And truly to explain this head fully would require the Pen yea exceed the skil of an Angel None can tell what God is but God himself All the sheets in the explication of the Doctrine speak somwhat of him but not the thousand thousandth part of that excellency that is in him Reader I may tell thee when God is offered thee the greatest good that ever was that ever will be that ever can be is offered thee there never was or can be the like offer'd thee more than Heaven and Earth than both Worlds than Millions of Worlds is offered thee This God who is offered thee is the King of Kings the Lord of Lords the God of Gods the blessed and glorious Potentate the first Cause the original Being Self-sufficient All-sufficient absolutely perfect uncapable of any addition or diminution This God who is offer'd thee
Creature in misery Hence he is said in Scripture after the manner of Men to have tender Mercies Psal 25.6 And bowels of Mercy Luke 1.58 And to be afflicted in the Afflictions of his People Isa 63.9 And to have his Soul grieved for the miseries of Israel Judges 10.15 16. As tender Parents are extremely troubled for the Afflictions of their Children Psal 103.12 13. So his Bowels are turned within him his Repentings are kindled together Hos 11.8 9. Mercy doth not onely pity but also relieve the afflicted it hath an Hand to supply as well as an Heart to pity those that are in Distress Isaiah 34.18 Gen. 19.16 The Attribute of Mercy is that which God glorieth in and boasteth of Exod. 33.19 Psal 103.8 Noble and Heroick Spirits are ever gentle and merciful The basest Minds are most cruel and farthest from Mercy God saith Fury is not in him Isaiah 27.4 Judgment is his strange Work Isaiah 28.21 He doth not afflict willingly Lament 3.33 But delighteth in the Prosperity of his Servants Psalm 35.27 It 's not his Nature to disturb and destroy Men it 's their Sin that forceth Thunderbolts into his Hands Isaiah 44.22 His delight is in Mercy Micah 7.18 The blessed God hath multitude of Mercies Psal 51.1 To answer the multitude of the Creatures Miseries Abundant mercy 1 Pet. 1.3 He is said to be rich in mercy Ephes 2.4 Exceeding abundant rich in mercy Ephes 2.7 His Mercy as Oyl swims on the top of all his Attributes is his delight Jer. 32.41 I will rejoyce over them to do them good His Mercy as Gold being most excellent over-layeth all his Works Psal 145.7 His tender mercy is over all his Works His Mercy is to all admiration O how excellent is thy loving kindness Psal 36.7 O how great is thy goodness Psal 31.19 His Mercy is beyond all Apprehension Thy Mercy reacheth to the Heavens Psal 108.4 1 Cor. 2.9 He is stiled the Father of Mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 Not the Father of Justice or Fury Mercy is the Joy and Pleasure of God Hence he is said to have a Mercy-Seat and to have a Throne of Grace Heb. 9.5 Sitting is a posture of Ease and Rest but he riseth to execute Justice Psal 68.1 He doth rest in his Love Ephes 3.17 Mercy is the Glory and Honour of God When Moses desired to see the Glory of God Exod. 33.18 The Lord proclaims The Lord God gracious merciful Exod. 34.6 7. When God promiseth to do great things for his People That he will give them Health abundance of Peace cleanse them from all their Filthiness and pardon all their Iniquities Jer. 33.7 8 9. He gives us the fruit of it verse 9. And it shall be to me for a Name of Joy a Praise and Glory before all Nations His Mercy is his Riches his Treasure Hence he is said to be Rich in mercy Eph. 2.4 God is merciful in all he doth universally merciful All his wayes are Mercy and Truth Psal 25.10 The whole World is a Volume written within and without with Characters of Mercy He is merciful to all Men Psal 145.9 Sheweth mercy to thousands Exod. 20.6 Exod. 34.7 Math. 5.45 46. He is merciful at all times His mercy endureth for ever Psal 118.1 Psal 136.1 2 3. He is merciful in all respects He giveth all sorts of Mercies 1 Tim. 6.13 Eph. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.3 4. Men are merciful Prov. 11.17 Psal 37.26 So are Angels in a sense but none of them comparable to God The tender Mercies of the Wicked yea of the righteous Men yea of Angels are Cruelties to the Mercies of God Have they such Pity such Bowels for miserable Creatures as God hath Have they such Power such Ability to relieve afflicted Ones as God hath Can they afford preserving protecting Mercy as God Job 10.12 Pardoning and forgiving Mercy Micah 7.18 Purifying and renewing Mercy Ephes 2.4 Saving and eternal Mercy Tit. 3.5 6. O how infinitely short do they come of him He is so incomparable in Mercy that Mercy is said to belong onely to him Vnto thee O Lord belongeth Mercy Psal 62.10 Unto thee and none but thee He is so merciful that when his Bowels conflict with justice on the behalf of Sinners and get the upper hand he rejoyceth in the Victory Mercy rejoyceth against Judgment James 2.14 He is so merciful that he dispenseth with his own Institutions for the sake of it Hos 6.6 Math. 9.13 with Math. 12.7 Once more he is so merciful that he is upbraided with it as if he were too fond of that Attribute and loved it over-much Jonah 4.2 Was not this my saying in my own Country for I knew that thou wast merciful Thou didst send me to Preach Destruction and Desolation to Nineveh but when I received the Message I knew all would be prevented by mercy and that to Preach such a Threatning was but to disgrace and dishonor my self as a false Prophet before the men of Nineveh for I thought then what is now come to pass that notwithstanding the peremptoriness of the Message Mercy would interpose and prove me false 8. God is incomparable in his Patience Patience is that Attribute in God whereby he beareth with Sinners and forbears or defers their Punishment or that whereby he expecteth and waiteth long for their Conversion He is a God slow to anger Psal 103.8 He waiteth on Men to do them good Isa 30.18 He is long-suffering 2 Pet. 3.7 9. Nay He endureth with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath Rom. 9.22 He is the God of Patience Rom. 15.5 The Patience of God is the more admirable if we consider 1. How perfectly he hateth Sin Psal 5.4 Hab. 1.13 Prov. 6.16 And how offensive it is to him it grieveth him Eph. 4.30 It presseth him as Sheaves press a Cart Amos 2.13 He is broken with their whorish Hearts Ezek. 6.9 Though he be infinitely perfect that no Sin can be hurtful to him yet he is so infinitely pure that all Sin is hateful to him 2. What an affront Sin is to him A contempt of his Authority therefore call'd a despising him 1 Sam. 2.30 An ecclipsing his Honour therefore call'd a dishonouring him Rom. 2.23 A contention with him for Mastery therefore call'd a fighting against him Acts 5.39 Job 15.25 A violation of his Commands therefore call'd a transgression of the Law 1 John 3.4 It affronts his Wisdome therefore call'd folly 2 Sam. 24.10 His Justice therefore call'd unrighteousness 1 John 1.6 7. His Patience therefore call'd a despising his long-suffering Rom. 2.4 His Mercy therefore call'd a turning his Grace into wantonness Jude ver 4. His Truth therefore call'd a Lye Isa 44.20 It must be infinite Patience to bear with that which is the Object of infinite hatred 3. Who they are who thus dare and provoke him They are his Creatures Psal 100.2 whom he hath infinitely obliged Lament 3.22 23. And laden with innumerable Blessings Psal 116.12 And loved unconceiveably John 3.16 And seeks daily to over-come
infinite being should much affect our hearts Praise ye the Lord Praise him O ye servants of the Lord Praise the name of the Lord Blessed from this time forth and for ever From the rising of the Sun to the going down of the same the Lords name is to be praised why the Lord is high above all Nations and his glory above the Heavens who is like to the Lord our God who dwelleth on high Psal 113.1 to 6. Praise him for his incomparableness in his attributes for the incomparableness of his power O Lord God of Host who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 For the incomparableness of his holiness Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness Exod. 15.11 For the incomparableness of his mercy Who is a God like unto thee pardoning iniquity and passing by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage because he delighteth in mercy Praise him for the incomparableness of his Words O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men Psal 107.8.15 21 31. Psal 72.18 Psal 136.4 Praise him for the work of Creation Psal 114.1 2 3 4 5. Job 38.4 5 6. Praise him for his works of Providence Psal 97.8 9. Psal 136. throughout Psal 107. Praise him especially for the work of Redemption Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath visited and redeemed his people Luk. 1.68 Psal 9.1 Rev. 15.3 Praise him for the incomparableness of his Word Wonderful are thy Testimonies Psal 119.129 How often doth the sweet Singer of Israel praise God for them as a singular kindness Psal 147. two last verses He gave his Statutes to Moses his Laws and Commandments to Jacob He hath not dealt so with every Nation Praise ye the Lord. Praise him by admiring him Wonder at his being As they of Christ What manner of man is this that the winds and seas obey him Math. 8.27 What manner of God is this who knoweth no bounds no beginning no succession no addition An amazing admiration of him is an high commendation of him And indeed our silent wondering at his perfections is almost all the worship we can give him Psal 65.1 Praise waiteth for thee O God in Sion Heb. Praise is silent for thee O God in Sion not that praise was dumb or tongue-tyed in Sion for praise in no part of the world speaks higher or louder than in Sion but to shew that when the people of God set themselves to praise him they are struck with amazement and wonder at his matchless being and beauty at his infinite excellencies and perfections and wanting words to express them they sit down in a silent admiration of them Thou wouldst wonder at Adam if he were now alive for his age O wonder at him that is from everlasting to everlasting that is the cause and original of all things that is what he is that is and nothing else is that is all he is in one indivisible point of eternity Wonder at his attributes admire his holiness Behold he putteth no trust in his Servants he chargeth the Angels with folly Job 4.18 Behold wonder at it Again Behold he putteth no trust in his Saints the Heavens are not clean in his sight Job 15.15 Admire his wisdom cry out with the Apostle O the depth of the wisdom and knowledg of God Rom. 11.33 Admire his love Behold what manner of love hath the Father loved us with 1 Joh. 3.1 Admire his power that he can do what he will do Who is a strong Lord like unto thee Psal 89.8 Wonder at his Works Thou art ready to wonder at the rare works of some curious Artist alass all their works are toyes to the works of the mighty Creator and Possessor of Heaven and Earth O Lord how marvellous are thy works Psal 104.24 His work is honourable and glorious Psal 111.3 and worthy thy greatest wonder What a piece is the Creation how marveilous how mysterious Psal 8.1 2 3 4 5. The Heavens declare his glory Psal 19.1 and the earth is full of his goodness Psal 104.24 What a work is Providence read Psal 104. and 107. How many rarities curiosities mysteries are wrapt up in it which are only seen in the other world Psal 77.19 What man is this say they for he commandeth with authority and the unclean Spirits come out of men Mark 1.27 What a Master-piece what rare workmanship indeed is Redemption a work that the Angels are alwayes prying into and wondering at Eph. 3.8 1 Pet. 1.10 Wonder at his Word When thou hearest it dost thou not perceive a Majesty and Authority awing thy Conscience accompanying it And they were all amazed and astonished at his Doctrine Luk. 4.32 The very Officers who were sent to apprehend Christ could not but wonder at his words and returned to them who set them a work Never man spake as he spake Joh. 7.47 There are great things in the Law of God Hosea 8.12 things that are wonderful Psal 119.18 which may well be wondered at And all saith the Evangelist bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Luk. 4.22 Praise him by speaking alwayes highly and honourably of him If his name alone be excellent take heed that thou dost not take his excellent name in vain Thy apprehensions of him must be ever high and thy expressions of him honourable Thy Tongue is therefore call'd thy glory because therewith thou mayest glorifie thy God Psal 57.8 Never speak of God rashly or at random without a serious consideration of whom thou speakest and let thy expressions of him and to him be becoming his vast perfections Ascribe greatness to our God Deut. 32.3 Speak honourably of his being So Moses Exod. 15.11 Who is a God like unto thee glorious in holiness fearful in praises So Solomon 1 Kings 8.23 Lord God of Israel there is no God like unto thee in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath So David 1 Chron. 29.11 Speak honourably of his attributes Psal 68.34 of his power mercy truth justice wisdom and holiness Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Isa 6.3 Speak honourably of his words Psal 86.8 Among all the Gods there is none like unto thee neither are there any works like unto thy works Psal 145.10 Speak honourably of his Word The Commandments of the Lord are pure Psal 19.7 Thy word is very pure The Statutes of the Lord are right Psal 19.10 The Law is holy just and good Rom. 7.12 Though Paul's corruption took occasion by the Laws prohibitions to become the more unruly as the water at a Bridge roars the more for the stop yet he dares not lay the least fault upon the Law but layeth all upon himself was the Law Sin God forbid v. 7. Far be it from me to have the least such thought No the Law is holy but I am carnal sold under sin v. 14. So when he speaketh of the Gospel how honourably doth he speak of it
apprehended deserted by his Father and Brethren that he should die be pierced not have a Bone broken be buried make his Grave with the Rich and the Wicked and rise again from the Dead and reap the fruit of all his Passion to his full satisfaction He hath fore-told the state of the World and the Church in the Revelations from the Primitive times to the dissolution of the World though it 's written in short-hand and in dark Characters And can any Men or Angels fore-tell such things God challengeth all the gods to do this Shew the things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are gods Isa 41.21 22 23. The certain Prediction of future Contingents is such an inseparable Prerogative of the Deity and such a special Priviledge of the Original of all things that he ingageth to own their Supremacy and acknowledge their Sovereignty who can do it It 's such a Jewel in his Crown that none ever shared in it I have declared the former things from the beginning I did them suddenly and they came to pass I have even from the beginning declared it to thee before it came to pass I shewed it to thee Isa 48.3 5. It 's peculiar to him who worketh all in all to fore-know and fore-tell whatsoever shall come to pass Acts 15.18 Known to God are all his Works from the beginning of the World yea from all eternity For he stood on the high Mountain of eternity and thence had a full view of all that his will would produce and whatsoever should come to pass CHAP. XVI God incomparable in his Word as it is converting affrighting and comforting 3. GOD is incomparable in the effects of his Word His Words are Works they are operative as well as declarative of his Pleasure What he speaketh hath Power and Vertue in it as well as Weight and Value 1. It is efficacious in converting the Soul The word of God can stop the tide of nature when it runneth with the greatest violence yea it can turn it the quite contrary way Let a man be in the height of his Strength in the heat of his Youth ruffling and bussling among the Sparks of the times taking a large draught of carnal Pleasures and having a full gust of sensual Delights making his whole life but a diversion from one Pleasure to another as if he were sent into the Earth as Leviathan into the waters only to play and sport there when this man is in his best estate in the Zenith of Health and Strength in the Meridian of his Age promising himself a long day of life and putting the day of death far from him and thereby giving himself the more liberty to the service of his Lusts yet if the word of God come to this man who sucketh in Wind as the wild Asses Colt it makes him pluck in his Plumes bid adieu to his foolish Pleasures leave his most beloved Lusts loath himself for ever loving them it alters the man's Palat that is bitter now which was sweet before and he cannot savour what formerly was his heaven and happiness it changeth the bent and frame of his heart that now he forsaketh with detestation what formerly he followed after as his onely felicity and chiefest good The wild man is tame the obstinate man is pliable and the distracted man is recover'd to his wits Psal 119.9 Men and Angels may perswade but God only can prevail The words of Creatures may work for an outward reformation but the word of God alone for an inward renovation He only that made the Heart can mend it Humane Counsels may do somewhat towards the hiding of the corruptions of Nature but Divine instructions are only effectual for the healing of corrupted Nature The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul Psal 19.7 Converting the Soul The Law of man may bind the Body to its good behaviour but the Law of God alone can bring the Soul to its good behaviour To turn a Lion into a Lamb Darkness into Light a Stone into Flesh Death into Life all which is done in conversion can be effected by the Word of none but a God Isa 11.8 9 10. Eph. 5.8 Ezek. 26. Eph. 2.1 5. No word but his can take a Cions off from its own natural stock and ingraft it into a new stock Rom. 11.17 James 1.21 2 Cor. 10.4 Acts 2.41 Acts 4.4 2. It is efficacious in affrighting the Sinner He speaks not as Men or Angels to the Ears only but to the hidden-man of the Heart and shatters it in pieces he plants his Batteries of Threatnings and Terrors and Curses against the inward man of the Conscience and puts it into an Ague of trembling and shaking Fits as we see in Herod Acts 24.27 and levels it to the ground This word in the mouth of a poor Prisoner at the Bar frights the proud sturdy Judge on the Bench. When God speaks he makes the best people afraid and cry out Let not God speak to us least we die and the best of that people exceedingly to quake and fear Exod. 19.19 Heb. 12.21 The Voice of the Lord is terrible it shaketh the Cedars of Lebanon it shattereth the Oakes of Bashan Psal 29. Those that were Monsters of Mankind for Cruelty and Barbarousness for Stupidity and Searedness by his Word have been terrified in their Spirits wounded in their Consciences cut to the Heart and forced to call out Sirs What shall we do to be saved Acts 2.37 The most stubborn sensless Sinner whom neither Mercies nor Miseries could move or melt who mocked at the Curses of the Law and the Wrath of the Lord and as Leviathan laughed at the shaking of those Spears whom as the man possessed with the Devil no Cords could hold no Chains could fasten but he burst all asunder when the Word of the Lord hath been spoken to him instead of flying in his face as formerly when men have spoken to him he hath fallen down at his feet been filled with fears and frights felt the very Fire of Hell flaming in his conscience and become a very Magor Missabib fear or terror to himself round about The Word of God hath stuck in his Heart as the Arrow in the side of the Buck allowing no ease whithersoever he hath gone in the night scaring him with Dreams and terrifying him with Visions in the day admitting no rest in his Flesh nor quietness in his Bones forcing him in all Places and in all Companies still to carry his Jaylour his Tormentor his Executioner along with him and at last that he might escape a partial and temporal to leap into a total an eternal Hell Ah who knoweth the Power of his Anger of his angry word or is able to fear him according to his wrath Psal 90.11 I may challenge every Man every Angel as God himself doth Job Hast thou an Arm like God Canst thou thunder with thy Voice like him Job 40.9 If he utter his word of
that the great God shall deal with him Ezek. 22.14 2. Again How great is their madness who will venture the eternal loss of this God this incomparable God for every base lust what a mad man is he who will stake a Million against a Mite a Crown against a Crum Substance against Shadows all things against nothing the blessed boundless God against a moments sensual delight Was not Shimei bereft of his wits to hazard his life for a little uncertain worldly profit by his Servant The Lord Jesus doth most fitly call him a fool who would hazard and lose the incomparable God for a little corruptible Gold Luke 12.20 The Spirit of God speaks the Prodigal to be beside himself when he left bread bread enough bread enough in his Fathers house for husks and not a Belly full neither and among Swine Luke 15.18 19 20. and when he came to himself he considered what a mad man he was to wallow among Swine and feed on such bruitish fare which could never fill his belly when he might have been feasting among the Children of God in his Fathers house with plenty of what is bread indeed able to satisfie a capacious Heaven-born Soul Friend think of it seriously the next time thou art tempted to Sin will this Oath or this Cup or this Theft or this Wantonness or this neglect of Duty ballance the everlasting loss of the incomparable God will this lust this moments pleasure make amends for the loss of him who is eternal life and a River of unconceivable and unchangeable pleasures shall I be so besotted bewitched distracted as to lose real mercies for lying vanities the fountain of living waters for Broken Cisterns the food of Angels for the worlds scraps a precious Soul an inestimable Saviour an incomparable God for a toy a trifle a poor empty guilded nothing Did ever any in Bedlam buy so dear or sell so cheap or manifest the like madness 2. Of the misery of Sinners They shall lose this incomparable God for ever nay they must have him for their everlasting enemy 1. Their misery consisteth partly in this that they must depart for ever from this incomparable God Math. 7.23 Depart from me ye workers of iniquity Math. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed O how dreadful a sound will the word Depart make in the Sinners ears yea what a deep wound will it make in his heart Depart from me Ah! whether do they go that go from God To depart from riches and honours and carnal comforts for ever will affect and afflict him to purpose who placeth his happiness in them to lose health and liberty and friends and relations for ever is no inconsiderable loss to him that knoweth not where to have them made up To lose the Ordinances of God seasons of Grace the tenders intreaties invitations of the Gospel for ever is such a loss that a sensuallist is uncapable of conceiving the greatness of To lose the Communion of perfect Spirits the company of glorious Angels the blessed exercises of the Heavenly Host for ever will not a little affright and amaze and vex and terrifie the wicked when they once come to have their eyes opened and their Consciences awakened in the other world But to depart from the incomparable God for ever to lose the only Paradice of pleasures the only fountain of living Waters the only author of true felicity to lose the unsearchable Mine of Riches the inexhaustable well of Salvation the inestimable Sun of Righteousness to lose the dearest Father the wisest Guide the strongest Shield the sweetest Love the closest Friend the tenderest Mercy the richest Grace the highest Honour the only happiness to lose the Lord of Life the Lord of Glory the Lord of Lords to lose the God of Hope the God of all Grace the God of all Consolation the God of Peace the God of Gods the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the incomparable God and to lose him totally and for ever is the loss of all losses is such a loss as no tongue can declare no mind can conceive is such a loss as never was the like before it nor shall nor can be the like after it He that hath lost God hath nothing left that is good he hath lost all that was worth having or saving Lord whether shall we go if we go from thee thou hast the words of eternal life Joh. 6.68 Reader how great is the Sinners loss in the other world how great soever his gain is in this Ah where is his hope though he hath gained when God shall take away his Soul Job 27.8 Can the greatest gain Counter-ballance the loss of him to whom the whole world yea millions of worlds are trash and trifles The greatness of any loss is to be measured by the excellency and value of that which we lose therefore if God be so incomparable in all perfections the loss of Sinners who lose this God totally and eternally must be an incomparable loss As there is no gain equal to the gain of a God all other gains are but painted Babies or Butterflies to this so there is no loss equal to the loss of a God all other losses are but Bug-bears to fright Children with to this this is a loss with a witness a loss which nothing can countervail supply or make up in which all that is good is gone for ever As Micah said to the Israelites when they asked him what he ayled to cry out so Ye have taken away my God and what have I more Judg. 18.22 So will the Sinner in the other world screech horribly and complain heavily of his deceitful Flesh which now he makes such provision for Thou hast taken away my God and what have I more I am poor a beggar nothing worth worse than naught wholly ruined utterly undone by thee I have lost my God and with him all that is good Reader if thou livest without God ponder O ponder in the midst of all thy gettings what thou art loosing yea what thou shalt loose if thou dost not return for ever and ever Did the Disciples weep and wail that they should see the face of a good man no more on earth Sorrowing most of all for the words that he spake unto them that they should see his face no more Acts 20.38 And dost thou think it will not fill thy heart with sorrow and cut it with anguish to hear the blessed God the incomparable God say to thee Sinner farewel farewel for ever thou shalt see my face no more for ever Believe it those words will sound more dolefully in thine ears than thou art now aware of they will be a Passing Bell to all thy hopes and joyes and comforts and delights they will be a knell to Toll the Death and Burial of whatsoever may be refreshing and reviving to thee of all thine ease and rest and liberty and peace and health and strength and friends and relations and all that may in the